Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Greenly writes a long letter describing his trip from Denver City to the mouth of the Platte River. He thus relates a discussion that occurred one night around the campfire.
“By the way, there was a discussion at supper between my three companions-all mountaineers of ripe experience-as to the relative merits of certain meats, of which I give the substance for the benefit of future travelers through the wild region. Buffalo I found to be a general favorite, though my own experience of it makes it a tough, dry, wooden fiber, only to be eaten under great provocation. I infer that it is poorer in Spring than at other seasons, and that I have not been fortunate in cooks. Bear, I was surprised to learn, is not generally liked by mountaineers-my companions had eaten every species, and were not pleased with any. The black-tailed deer of the mountains is a general favorite; so is the mountain hen or grouse; so is the antelope, of course; the elk and mountain sheep less decidedly so. None of our party liked horse, or knew any way of cooking it that would make it really palatable, though of course it has to be eaten occasionally, for necessity hath no law-or rather, is its own law. Our conductor had eaten boiled wolf, under compulsion, but could not recommend it; but he certified that a slice of cold boiled dog-well boiled so as to free it from rankness, and then suffered to cool thoroughly-is tender, sweet and delicate as lamb. I ought to have ascertained the species and age of the dog in whose behalf this testimony was borne-for a young Newfoundland or King Charles might justify the praise, whilst it would be utterly unwarranted in the case of an old cur or mastiff-but the opportunity was lost, and I can only give the testimony as I received it.